Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 17, § 24.12. Early literacy professional development; purpose; requirements; reporting; funding

(1) “Administrator” means a principal or assistant principal of a school that includes kindergarten through third grade.

(2) “Approved professional development course” means a foundational literacy skills instruction course that is based on the science of reading designed for the professional development of educators, and includes information on instructing students regarding phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

(3) “Teacher” means each kindergarten through third grade teacher who teaches reading, math, science, or social studies.

(1) Not later than December 1, 2021, develop a list of approved professional development courses.

(2) Not later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, require each teacher and administrator to successfully complete at least one approved professional development course and provide documentation of successful completion of the course to their employing school. A teacher or administrator who provides documentation of completion of an approved professional development program within the five years prior to 2023 shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph.

(3) Require any teacher or administrator hired after August 1, 2023, to provide documentation to his employing school of successful completion of an approved professional development course within two years of his date of employment.